Elastic supporting surface and method for its production

ABSTRACT

An elastic supporting surface for beds, divans, arm-chairs and the like, and a method of producing such surface, comprising preparing a particular chemical composition suitable to form rubber-like elastic elements, connecting these elements in perpendicular rows by hooks, and connecting the elements at the ends of the rows under tension to a peripheral frame so as to form a plane elastic surface.

1451 Jan. 15, 1974 ted tates Patent 1191 Galiani ELASTIC SUPPORTING SURFACE AND 2,810,672 10/1957 Taylor............................297/DIG.2

13,038 9/1900 Great Britain.......................... 5/186 Primary ExaminerCasmir A. Nunberg 1 Att0rneyCullen, Settle, Sloman & Cantor [22] Filed:

Foreign Application Priority Data 2 ,!?N 9W ABSTRACT An elastic supporting surface for beds, divans, arm- Nov.29, l969 [52] US.

[ [m CH 5/186 5/ chairs and the like, and a method of producing such [58] Fieid 2 5/186 surface, Comprising preparing a particular chemical 8T 1 2 3 composition suitable to form rubber-like elastic elements, connecting these elements in perpendicular rows by hooks, and connecting the elements at the ends of the rows under tension to a peripheral frame so as to form a plane elastic surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,725,580 Heller 5/186 2,788,531 4/1957 Dye et a1. 5 191 3 Claims 4 Drawing Figures INVENTOR Q 1 L o m o o o o o 0 J .M a o F. K F L L V E E Q Q (0) Q FGI Q G G i GGGG QG PATENIEUJAN 15 I974 BY W7 ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAN 15 I974 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY ELASTIC SUPPORTING SURFACE AND METHOD FOR ITS PRODUCTION This invention relates to an elastic supporting surface for beds, divans, arm-chairs and the like, and a method of producing such elastic supporting surface which is formed of a plurality of rubber-like elements of any shape such as rings, strips or the like made of a special rubber which in use is under tension, such elements being mounted side by side and hooked together as well as to a frame by means of hooks and lugs provided on the elements.

The conventional beds all have a bottom supporting surface or bed spring which may be elastic or nonelastic. In either case it has its disadvantages: in the first case it is too springy, in the latter case it is too rigid. Further, as the bottom support is made of metal it may easily break under repeated shock or stress. However, the major inconvenience consists in the noises, screaks and scratches of all kinds that such supports make and which disturb and are harmful to the psychological state and the physiological relaxation of the person on the bed who wants to sleep or rest.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate all these material and psychological inconveniences and this is achieved according to the present invention by providing a bed supporting surface made of elastic rubber elements in the form of rings or strips or other shapes and having particularly advantageous chemical, physical and mechanical properties. These physical and mechanical advantages are obtained by an appropriate rubber based chemical composition which is particularly suitable for making an elastic, silent and'hygienic net-like supporting surface for beds arm-chains, divans and the like. To form such net-like supporting surface the rubber'like elements are arranged side by side and hooked together under tension in a suitable metal frame or a frame of some other stout material so that the elements' are stretched in two perpendicular directions.

These rubber elements in the form of rings, strips or the like eliminate all the above-mentioned inconveniences and ensure good rest to the human body, are

more hygienic and give more comfortand psychical relax to the resting or sleeping person.

The inventive supporting surface thus constructed has a high breaking strength and its elements always re turn to their original position to maintain the supporting surface always in a plane, silent and soft condition without cavities.

Further, the inventive elastic supporting surface formed of rubber-like elements does not present any hidden gaps or interstices which would favor the propagation of bugs and the rubber-like material of the elements repels bugs.

A network formed of the rubber elements according to the invention in the form of rings, strips or the like, which are elastically stretched in a frame with or without legs, can very well perform the functions of and replace a conventional bed-spring and is suitable for use also in divans, arm-chairs and like applications where a soft, hygienic and silent elastic supporting surface is required. A particular advantage of this network consists in that the rubber elements can be easily replaced with in a few minutes when the-y are broken or worn while the frame of the bed or other piece of furniture can .be further used.

The rubber elements according to the invention can be used in many different applications, structures and forms and merely by way of non-limiting examples two embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of rubber elements in a net-like supporting surface according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the net-like supporting surface of FIG. 1 when it is finished;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of rubber elements in another embodiment of a net-like supporting surface according to the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the net-like supporting surface of. FIG. 3 when it is finished.

Referring now to FIG. 1, where is shown a frame the four corners of which are indicated by A, B, C and D and which may be made of metal, wood or some other stout material with or without legs.

Mounted in the interior of this frame A, B, C, D is a plurality of elements or rings E of vulcanized rubber consisting of a particular chemical composition which will be described hereinafter. These rings have the advantageous physical and mechanical properties explained before and may have a circular, square or some other suitable shape and are held together by hooks G of metal or some other sturdy material. The rings E are first hooked together in rows F in the. direction of the sides A-D and B-C, then the rings E at the one end of the row F are hooked to the side A-B in appropriate holes K so as to form several rows of rings E the number of which is chosen in proportion to the tension and elasticity that the finished elastic supporting surface is intended to have. Thereafter each row F of rings E is pulled and stretched and hooked one after the other into the holes K on the opposite side of the frame.

Immediately after this operation the same operator carries out the second step of mounting the rubber elements E in the frame A, B, C, D. This second step consists in hooking together the rubber elements E perpendicularly to the rows F in the directions A-B and C-D and finally securing them laterally in the holes I and L by end hooks. Thus the elastic supporting surface is finished and has the form shown in FIG. 2 with gaps Min the form of rhombuses, rhomboids or other geometric configucations defined between the rubber elements E.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of the elastic supporting surface according to the invention. In this embodiment the elastic supporting surface is composed of a plurality of elastic strips S of rubber or some elastomer, preferably the rubber composition which will be described in detail hereinafter. The two ends N of the elastic strips S are provided with one or more hooks O of sturdy material and any desired shape suitable for hooking them into appropriate holes provided in the bars forming a frame P of a bed, divan, armchair or some other elastic supporting surface.

Each elastic strip S is provided on both sides with lateral lugs Q made of the same elastic material as the strips S and shaped as desired to meet requirements of utility and attractive appearance. Adjacent lugs of neighboring strips S have their ends connected together by hooks R and the lugs Q of the strips S at the ends of the frame P are also connected by hooks to the ends of the frame P so'that the strips S are under constant tension and form an elastic supporting surface for a bed or the like, which is kept stretched by the forces exerted in opposite and perpendicular directions by the sides of the frame P.

The undersides of the elastic strips S may be provided with reinforing ribs made of the same material as the strips themselves, according to the various conditions of stress that the elastic supporting surface is designed to carry in use, and on the upper visible surface of use of the strips S there may be formed various decorative designs or anti-skid knurlings of any desired configuration.

The inventive elements in the form of rings, strips or the like are preferably made of a particular chemical composition on a rubber basis. The following formula for preparing this composition has been found to be most suitable for the purpose. The percentages of the chemical components listed hereafter may be present in the composition in an amount 1 of 15 percent more or less than the amount indicated.

FORMULA Caoutchouc Fume I-X Yellow Circle l g.

Carbon black Philblack N/330 46 g.

Highly aerated industrial sulphur 2 g.

Accelerator 4MT (tetramethylthyuramdisulphide) Accelerator M (mercaptobenzothyazole) 2 g.

Active zinc oxide 5 g.

Antiager AL (aldol-alfa-naphthylamine) 1.5 g.

Antilux plasticizer 1.5 g.

Pulverized stearic acid 2 g.

Mineral rubber 4 g.

Clear mineral oil 4 g.

For preparing the rubber elements of the inventive elastic supporting surface the above composition is treated as follows:

The composition is mixed in a roll mixer at a temperature between 50 and 70 C. The mixture is formed into sheets and before vulcanizing the sheets are but into shapes suitable for pressing. The shaped products thus obtained are vulcanized in a heated press for times between 7 and minutes and at a constant temperature of between and 160C. The vulcanized product is subjected to a finishing treatment by grinding ist.

The rubber elements thus obtained have a breaking strength of at least -200 kg/cm and a permanent accelerated artificial deformation capacity of 4.5 percent and up to 10 percent as shown by artificial ageing (according to UNI standards) by squeezing a sample to two thirds of its original diameter or with its cross section reduced to one third in a heated oven for 48 hours.

Although two preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments, particularly with respect to the materials specified in connection therewith, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An elastic supporting surface for beds and the like, comprising:

an elongated peripheral frame;

a plurality of rubber-like elastic elongated strips extending transversely between and with their ends spaced from the frame sides, each strip being provided with a series of lateral lugs arranged in opposite pairs and tapering outwardly from the longitudinal center line of said strips to a point of connection between each of said opposed pairs;

individual hooks detachably connecting each of said opposite pairs of lateral lugs at said points of connection;

end hooks individually and detachably connecting the ends of said strips under tension to said frame, said strips and hooks forming a plane elastic supporting surface.

2. 1n the supporting surface of claim 1, hooks connecting the apices of the outer lugs of the end strips to said frame.

3. 1n the supporting surface of claim 2. said frame having a series of apertures to receive the strip anchoring hooks. 

1. An elastic supporting surface for beds and the like, comprising: an elongated peripheral frame; a plurality of rubber-like elastic elongated strips extending transversely between and with their ends spaced from the frame sides, each strip being provided with a series of lateral lugs arranged in opposite pairs and tapering outwardly from the longitudinal center line of said strips to a point of connection between each of said opposed pairs; individual hooks detachably connecting each of said opposite pairs of lateral lugs at said points of connection; end hooks individually and detachably connecting the ends of said strips under tension to said frame, said strips and hooks forming a plane elastic supporting surface.
 2. In the supporting surface of claim 1, hooks connecting the apices of the outer lugs of the end strips to said frame.
 3. In the supporting surface of claim 2, said frame having a series of apertures to receive the strip anchoring hooks. 